Birthdays! How about Birthday WEEKS!

In my family, birthdays are a big HUGE deal. We tend to celebrate the whole month instead of just one day. Yesterday was my dad's birthday, so he has the entire month of May. 

So to bring this birthday month to a close, this post is all about you, dad! I hope your birthday month was the best one yet! 

This weekends festivities began with a cook out with our close friends who are more like family to us from Mississippi. We have added onto our deck, which is now three levels so we had to break it in! I was able to spend my afternoon in the kitchen baking. My dad's favorite cake is a Black Forest Cake and my grandmother would make it every year for him on his birthday. So this year, I decided to call up grandmother and get this special recipe. 

Here I am with my finished product

A close up of the cake. It was so good! 

On his actual birthday, I got up and took dad to brunch at one of our favorite places, Bojangles. We don't go there too often but you can't beat a Bojangles biscuit and sweet tea for brunch, plus who can't resist being able to start the day off with saying "It's Bo time, y'all!"

Prior to going out to dinner, dad opened his gifts. I gave him a Columbia Performance Fishing Gear white shirt. You can never have enough white shirts and in South Carolina you definitely need a PFG. The fabric is extremely light and has Omni-shade sun protection, which is a lifesaver in this 98 degree sunny heat we've got here at the moment. Its pretty nifty. My mom gave dad a new Citizen Eco Drive watch. Its a nice, brushed silver watch and the neat thing is that it never needs a battery. The watch is powered by the sun and the movement of your arm. How cool is that?

So for dinner, we decided to step it up a notch and head to one of our local favorites, Arizona's steak house. Once it had cooled down we were able to sit outside and enjoy a nice dinner. 

Me and my dad sporting his new Columbia shirt

mom and dad outside the restaurant 

This concludes the birthday month of May.

 Dad, I hope you had a wonderful birthday month because you most definitely deserved it! I love you! :) 

Now we just get to wait until September for my festivities to start! 

Must Haves for Summer 2011

Its that time of year again, its summer! I know I have been incognito for the past month but it has been quite eventful to say the least. I'm done with school, for a little while at least and am learning to relax again. It's also time for another "Grace's Must Haves" posts. 

Jack Rogers Hamptons Navajo Hi Wedge

I love, more like live in, my Jack Rogers during the summer. But I must say I am in love with these wedge JR's. I have been looking for a pair of wedges to wear with crops and dresses and these would be a perfect addition! 

Vineyard Vines Upper Keys Dress in Vineyard Navy

I've had my eye on this dress for quite a while now and am anxiously awaiting the opening of the brand new Vineyard Vines store at SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, NC.

Lilly Pulitzer Avery Skirt in Hotty Pink Cherry Begonias 

Fun skirts are perfect for the summer, especially when paired with a basic white tee. This skirt would just be so much fun, love it! 

Ray-Ban Small Aviator 

I already have a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers that I absolutely love, but definitely wouldn't mind adding this pair to the collection! 

Tugs: the original sunglass complement in pink seersucker of course

I was never a huge fan of Croakies, they were always too short and I would find myself getting annoyed with them. This product by Tugs seems like a wonderful idea, they are a little bit longer and made of a better fabric. While their website says they don't fit wire rimmed glasses well (such as Aviators), they work better for medium sized glasses, so my Wayfarers should work just fine! They come in a variety of colors and are a great buy at only $12. 

Shop Tugs online site

What are some of your Summer 2011 must haves? 

Until next time,

GES